Four highlights from the 2025 Great Northern Conference

Yasper team
Dec 4, 2025
2 min read

The seventh edition of the now calendar-staple Great Northern Conference took place on a sunny December morning at Doncaster Racecourse.

With a packed agenda covering topics from infrastructure and skills to culture and tech, the GNC was a high-powered day of meetings, speeches, seminars and panel discussions.

Climate minister Katie White MP talks into a microphone in front of a sign that reads 'The Great Northern Conference'.

But as the runners and riders took to the stalls, punters were facing short odds on which great northern project would be the flyaway winner. We take a look at the four things you need to know about the event.

1. All systems go for South Yorkshire’s airport. Hot on the heels of a positive decision at full council just a few days prior, much talk at the event revolved around the reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport. A highlight of the morning was hearing from (project partner) Munich Airport International MD, Dr Lutz Weisser, about the opportunities on offer. Click here for a great write-up from our friends over at Place Yorkshire.

2. Finding cultural capital. One of the most eagerly anticipated sessions was on the theme of culture and the role it plays in thriving societies. With Bradford 2025 in full swing, it was good to see Yasper friend and client Kamran Rashid imparting his knowledge as panel chair, speaking with experts about their perspectives. Find out about how Bradford plans to go out with a bang via the City of Culture website here and find out what we’ve been up to in that space here.

3. A climate of change. Having recently headlined at the Yorkshire Post Climate Summit, Climate Minister and Leeds North West MP Katie White, was once again called upon to do the star-turn. Speaking to the Yorkshire Post’s Westminster Correspondent Ralph Blackburn, she told delegate that the UK would need to invest in order to achieve energy security. Read Ralph’s exclusive here.

4. Leading debate. One of the most entertaining sessions was the leader’s debate, which brought together three of Yorkshire’s Combined Authority Mayors in Tracy Brabin, Oliver Coppard and David Skaith, with East Riding Council Leader Anne Handley providing a bit of political diversity to proceedings. While the topics covered may have been well-trodden, the manner in which they were discussed was collaborative, entertaining and at times, very amusing! Doing the last panel of an all-day event isn’t a feat to be taken lightly, but these four knew how to work a crowd.

With a reported 360 delegates signed up to this year’s event, the GNC continues to build on its impressive foundations and the organisers should be warmly congratulated with a warm drink and a lie down in a darkened room.

It was great to see so many Yasper clients, contacts and friends in the room, taking the stage and making the decisions that will grow the northern economy. We were proud to play our part in helping clients plan their attendance, and working with organisers in suggesting topics, speakers and delegates. Roll on GNC 2026.

A full room of delegates in business attire sitting on chairs at conference venue, Doncaster Racecourse.

A purple coloured lectern with the words 'The Great Northern Conference 2025' written on it.

Panelists on the skills panel at the Great Northern Conference facing an out-of-focus audience.

Northern leaders Oliver Coppard, Tracy Brabin, David Skaith and Anne Handley speak to journalists Ralph Blackburn on the stage at the Great Northern Conference.

Five speakers on the infrastructure panel on the stage at the Great Northern Conference, facing an out-of-focus audience with their backs to camera.